Touch’em All 2012 | New York Mets Pitching Report

Welcome back to our revised Touch’em All series. Right now we are going to take a look at the 2012 seasonal report for the New York Mets organizational pitching. Most people are aware of the “Four Horsemen” pitchers in Zack Wheeler, Matt Harvey, Jeurys Familia, and Jenrry Mejia in the upper level of the Mets minor league system. However, most people may not be aware that there’s a second group of “Four Horsemen” developing in the South Atlantic League. Michael Fulmer, Tyler Pill, Domingo Tapia, and Rafael Montero are doing a fantastic job and could be the talk of the organization by the time they reach the Florida State League.

Pitching Report

AAA Spotlight

Matt Harvey RHP Buffalo Bisons – Age 23 – Harvey is 5-1 with a 3.94 ERA and a 56/26 K/BB ratio. He struck out 11 on May 18th and is well on his way to making his major league debut some time this summer. He’s one of the very best pitching prospects in baseball.

Chris Schwinden RHP Buffalo Bisons – Age 25 – Schwinden did not look good at all in his 3 games in the majors in lat April/early May. He went 0-1 with a 12.46 ERA over 8.2 innings which included 2 starts. He struck out just one and walked 3. He also gave up 4 HRs. Back in Buffalo, he’s picked up right where he left off and is 3-4 with a 2.59 ERA and has a 41/17 K/BB ratio. With the crop of arms about ready to burst onto the scene, Schwinden may be facing the reality of working out the bullpen if he wants to return to New York.

Jeurys Familia RHP Buffalo Bisons – Age 22 – Since I last reported on Familia in the International League update, not a lot has changed. He’s still having an up and down ride. After pitching strong in his first 3 starts of May, Familia followed those up with a 3.2 inning start on May 19th and couldn’t last over 2 innings in his last start on May 25th. For the season he’s 4-1 with a 4.98 ERA and has a 46/34 K/BB ratio over 43.1 innings. He’s been erratic, but he’s young and talented and will have the full season to work it. The Mets aren’t going to rush him to the big leagues.

Jenrry Mejia RHP Buffalo Bisons – Age 22 – After starting the season on the IR, Mejia worked a couple of starts in the Florida State League and then in the Eastern League before making his 1st start for Buffalo this season yesterday. He’s 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA and has a 18/6 K/BB ratio over 25 innings so far. If he continues to progress like this, he should be in New York some time this summer.

AA Spotlight

Zack Wheeler RHP Binghamton Mets – Age 22 – Wheeler has been locked in so far in 2012. He’s 4-2 with a 1.97 ERA and has a 52/21 K/BB ratio over 45.2 innings. He’s won his last 4 starts and looks to make a jump to AAA soon. There’s a chance he could skip right on by Buffalo, if the Mets are inclined to let him make his major league debut this summer.

Collin McHugh RHP Binghamton Mets – Age 24 – The 2008 18th round pick is 5-3 with a 2.17 ERA and a 53/16 K/BB ratio over 62.1 innings on the season. He was actually very good in the Eastern League last year, so this isn’t a real big surprise now that he’s a year older in the same league. It doesn’t seem as if his future will be as a starter, and at least not with the Mets. Still, if he continues to perform the Mets will give him a shot at AAA and possibly a few starts in the majors.

Adrian Rosario RHP Binghamton Mets – Age 22 – Rosario was 1-0 with a 0.89 ERA, 11 saves, and a 28/7 K/BB ratio over 20.1 innings for St. Lucie before being promoted to AA. He’s 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA, 1 save, and has a 1/4 K/BB ratio in 4 innings since his promotion. He’s looking like a potentially good arm in the Mets bullpen next season.

High-A Spotlight

Cory Mazzoni RHP St. Lucie Mets – Age 22 - The 2011 2nd round pick is 4-0 with a 3.10 ERA and a 38/14 K/BB ratio over 52.1 innings. Despite being a touch old for the Florida State League, The Mets have no reason to rush Mazzoni. He’s likely to spend most of the season in the FSL, with a possible jump to the Eastern League later this summer if he’s still progressing. He’s not going to blow hitters away, but spots his pitches well.

Chase Huchingson LHP St. Lucie Mets – Age 23 – The 2010 non-drafted signee has performed well since signing. He’s 5-4 with a 3.14 ERA and a 49/30 K/BB ratio over 51.2 innings. His BABIP against is just .274, so once it goes up that ERA is going to take a hit if he doesn’t get the walks under control. Still, it’s always a nice story to see a walk on perform well. He has the potential to develop as an arm out of the pen.

Yohan Almonte RHP St. Lucie Mets – Age 22 – At 6’1″ and 150 pounds, the 2007 signee from the Dominican could stand to put some meat on his lanky body. He’s 4-0 with a 4.75 ERA and a 33/10 K/BB ratio over 41.2 innings. He’s got ok movement on a fastball that sits at 90-92 mph. His slider and change up are works in progress.

Adam Kolarek LHP St. Lucie Mets – Age 23 – With Adrian Rosario moving up to Binghamton, Kolarek is picking up all the save opportunities with St. Lucie. He’s 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA, 7 saves, and a 37/7 K/BB ratio over 25 innings on the season. The 2010 11th round pick has been very dominant this season, despite a .36 BABIP against him. His fastball has been sitting in the mid-90’s with decent movement.

Low-A Spotlight

Michael Fulmer RHP Savannah Sand Gnats – Age 19 – The 44th overall pick from the 2011 draft is pitching very well. He’s 2-2 with a 3.74 ERA and has a 32/13 K/BB ratio over 33.2 innings. The Mets are giving their young stud 5-6 days of between starts and have no reason to rush him. He’s progressing well while developing his pitch repertoire. He’s one to watch.

Rafael Montero RHP Savannah Sand Gnats – Age 21 – A late bloomer by Dominican standards, Montero signed with as a 20 year old in 2011. He appeared in all 4 of the short season leagues last season, going 5-4 with a 2.15 ERA and a 66/13 K/BB ratio. He’s 4-2 with a 2.81 ERA and has a 38/6 K/BB ratio over 51.1 innings. He has good command of his fastball that sits around 92 mph but can touch 94 mph. His secondary pitches are all below average, but do have potential and he does throw them for strikes. As I said in the Sally report, he’s one to keep on your radar.

Tyler Pill RHP Savannah Sand Gnats – Age 22- The 2011 4th round pick is 3-4 with a 2.61 ERA and has an outstanding 54/8 K/BB ratio over 51.2 innings on the season. He’s got great command and deception to go with his athleticism. It makes what many call a below average fastball play up and look faster than it is when it crosses the plate. There’s definitely some back of the rotation potential here.

Domingo Tapia RHP Savannah Sand Gnats – Age 20- We discussed the Dominican in our Sally League report a few weeks ago and we still like what we see here. He’s 4-2 with a 4.11 ERA and has a 41/14 K/BB ratio over 46 innings. He has excellent command for a young pitcher. The Mets just keep stock-piling arms and Tapia could be a good one.

That’s it for the Mets pitching report, check back soon for the hitters. Also, stay tuned for our 2012 MLB first-year player draft coverage.

Stick with Baseball Instinct and we’ll keep you a step ahead of the game. Check back soon for more Prospect coverage. While you’re here, check out our Baseball Instinct 360° – it’s our top 360 prospects for 2012. Also check out a friend of ours for all of your fantasy sports needs. Fantasy Rundown is updated religiously and is truly an awesome resource. Thanks for checking Baseball Instinct. We’re working hard to bring you the best of the minor leagues and make the site the best experience it can be, so don’t hesitate to tell us what you would like to read about. Email us now at mailbag@baseballinstinct.com.

George Utter
Closing in on 25 years of following the greatest game in the world very closely. I can remember as a kid how excited I was when a player that I had watched in the minors make his major league debut. The same holds true today. We designed Baseball Instinct with that in mind; getting you the fan excited to get out and see the see the stars of tomorrow - today!